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Gingrich, Romney Battle Over Florida; Politicians and Insider Trading; Court Win for Garth Brooks; Barefoot Bandit to be Sentenced; Alabama Teen's Family Devastated; Navy SEALs Pull Off Somalia Rescue

Aired January 25, 2012 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And now, top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Here are the stories we're looking at.

Behind the scenes here of the U.S. hostage rescue mission in Somalia. We're also at that college attended by that freed American.

In addition, the tight Republican presidential race in Florida heating up. Time to play reporter roulette.

We're going to go straight to the State department to Jill Daugherty to lead this off. Jill, explain to me how this whole Somalia raid went down. Who is involved?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, it's really an amazing story. You know, the Navy SEALs were part of the team. The SEALs were the people who got Osama Bin Laden. They went into Somalia to rescue two international aid workers, one of them a 32-year-old American.

Her name is Jessica Buchanan, and also a Danish citizen. He is 60 years old, Paul Haggensisten. The Special Forces went in. They were told a very dark night. They went in on helicopters, had to fight their way into this compound where they were holding these aid workers that had been helping people in Somalia. Got in there, there was a fire fight.

They killed nine of these guys who were holding them. They are not interestingly, Brooke, believed to be terrorists. They were actually like criminals, pirates in a way and -- and killed them, got the two people out. And they are now being looked at medically. There was a report that one of the reasons they decided to do this at this particular point is because Jessica Buchanan was ill, that she had some sort of problem that could have become serious and they decided to go in.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And we now know this is what Obama, President Obama was talking about when we were watching the State of the Union coverage, right, and you hear him saying...

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: He says good job tonight.

DOUGHERTY: To Panetta, yes. BALDWIN: Right, to Panetta.

Tell me a little bit more about these two aid workers, the female, Jessica Buchanan, the American and the Dane.

DOUGHERTY: Right. They were working for an organization that is called Danish Refugee Council.

And they were helping people in Somalia deal with mines, land mines. In essence, they were teaching. They were telling them how to de-mine areas, how to defuse mines and make harmless these mines. It's not an easy job, as you can imagine.

And in that area, Brooke -- I have been talking with some aid organizations that work in that area. Some parts of Somalia are relatively OK, but this was right on the border of areas that could be dangerous. And they have fighting on the ground, there is Al-Shabab, which is a terrorist organization, and then you have just the general mayhem of groups like this that want to kidnap people and make a lot of money in doing that.

BALDWIN: Jill Dougherty, thank you.

I want to talk a little more about this. Jill was just talking about Jessica Buchanan, the young woman who was rescued from those pirates in Somalia.

We actually have Brian Todd who joins me live at Valley Forge Christian College. This is Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Jessica was a student there on that campus. What have you learned about her, Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, we know that she was a student here. She graduated in 2007 with a degree in education.

They are ecstatic on this campus that she has been rescued. They got the news this morning when they all went to their required chapel services here. It's a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Assemblies of God Church.

And Jessica Buchanan, as I said, had graduated in 2007. She had gone over to Africa several times to student teach on missions and things like that, and the people here describe her passion for education, and especially a passion for teaching in that part of the world. This is what the school president, Don Meyer, said about that to us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON MEYER, PRESIDENT, VALLEY FORGE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE: When someone loves Africa, it just comes through. For her, she couldn't talk about Africa without tears in her eyes, just deeply passionate about wanting to make a difference there.

(END VIDEO CLIP) TODD: School officials have been in touch with the family. They have been able to share some of the news with the family and have been in touch with them. They ask that we not relay too much of what the family has said.

We have spoken to the father, not on camera, but he has spoken to myself and a colleague of mine, talking about how grateful he is for the rescue. I asked about her health, and he said, she's doing well under the circumstances. There is a question, there is some concern that she had some kind of an illness. The specifics of that are not clear right now.

The father did not want to get into that with me. Interesting, he told one of my colleagues -- he described the phone call that he got from President Obama telling him the news. He said, "John, this is Barack Obama. I'm calling because I have great news for you. Your daughter has been rescued by our military." And then he referred to some of his daughters -- some of the human element there and some of the circumstances there, but a very emotional father right now, very emotional people here on campus. They're just very, very relieved and glad for this news and they're eager to see this young lady again and to hear more about what happened.

BALDWIN: Amazing. We're glad she's safe, obviously.

Brian Todd, thank you so much. We will look for more of your reporting on "SITUATION ROOM."

Meantime, next on "Reporter Roulette" we have got Jim Acosta in Miami, where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney getting ready to speak again today. Busy, busy schedules for these candidates. We know -- Joe Johns was talking earlier. He was at a Newt Gingrich event. We know his campaign really slammed Mitt Romney in a Spanish-language ad out today.

Has Romney -- he has just responded?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Apparently he just responded at a Univision forum just a little while ago.

He's going to be speaking here where we're at in a few minutes from now. But he told Univision that it was unfortunate what he heard out of this Spanish-language radio ad.

And just to explain a little bit about what's gone on here, because a lot of news has developed on this front, let's play a little bit of that ad, and for our viewers at home who don't speak Spanish, I will do my best to give you a little bit of a translation on the other side.

BALDWIN: OK.

ACOSTA: So you heard a little bit there in that ad calling Mitt Romney a liberal from Massachusetts.

But the other thing that is said in this ad that has really caused a lot of controversy here in South Florida, the ad calls Mitt Romney the most anti-immigration candidate, and Mitt Romney responding to that at that Univision forum a little while ago, saying that that was unfortunate. But that's not really what's causing the controversy.

Marco Rubio, the very popular senator from Florida, has weighed in on this controversy. He's staying neutral in the Florida primary, but he has weighed in, calling the ad inflammatory and inaccurate. And in response to that, Brooke, the Gingrich campaign has pulled down that spot. It is no longer running that radio ad. A very interesting development in this race down here.

It's obviously heating up with. Nearly one out of every 10 Republican voters down here and across the state of Florida being Hispanic, they are sort of the big empanada, if you will, when it comes to the Florida primary. And so we're seeing no holds barred when it comes to the scrapping that is going on between these two campaigns today, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Also, day after the big State of the Union, we know Mitt Romney attacked the president, saying I believe the phrase was fantasyland, that the president lives in fantasyland. Those are obviously pretty strong words, what, the day before our big CNN debate in Florida, in Jacksonville.

ACOSTA: That's right.

And Mitt Romney has been trying to stay with his just his attack, the president posture here in this race, but it's been very difficult to do because Newt Gingrich has been going after Mitt Romney every day now. And it's funny, because just a few moments ago at that Univision forum, Mitt Romney was asked, would you consider Newt Gingrich as your vice presidential running mate?

And, Brooke, surprisingly, he said, yes, he would still consider the former speaker a running mate. So even though there's been a lot of fighting and a lot of bad blood between these two candidates over the last several weeks, it just goes to show you that some of this stuff can get left on the battlefield, Brooke.

BALDWIN: It's a good point.

Jim Acosta in Miami -- Jim, thank you.

And that's your "Reporter Roulette" here.

Still ahead: A dad turns his own son in after video surfaces of this violent beat-down. We're going to ask live why he did it. Why did you turn your son in, 17 years of age?

Plus, insider trading in Congress. President Obama has put the issue back in the spotlight by calling for it to end. You're going to hear my conversation with a guy who calls it cheating.

Also, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I might have tacos when I go home. I'm not quite sure yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You hear that, might have tacos? This mayor's comment sparking outrage today during a time when several of his own police officers are accused of racial profiling.

And some of the world's most powerful people gathering to talk about the future. And Poppy Harlow traveled along with them to talk to the guy they call Dr. Doom. Find out what Dr. Doom is predicting next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWS BREAK)

BLITZER: And to Davos, Switzerland, we go now, where some of the world's richest and most powerful people are gathering for the World Economic Forum.

And Poppy Harlow took the big plane ride over there, beautiful, snowy trees behind you, Poppy Harlow. I know you have been talking to a lot of influential, right, some of the most influential people on Earth. What are they telling you when you're asking about the current state of the world economy?

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Two things, Brooke, that have really stood out to me.

First, how dire the situation in Europe is. Just late yesterday, we got the latest reading from the International Monetary Fund, which greatly reduced the growth projections for the globe this year. So that means what happens in Europe and their situation greatly matters to us in the United States.

But what stood out to me most in my conversation with leaders today is their projection that social unrest not only in the United States, but around the world, is going to continue.

I sat down with billionaire investor George Soros, who weighed in, but also Nouriel Roubini, AKA, as you called him, Dr. Doom, the economist who predicted here last year we would see great social unrest. It played out. Here's reaction from both of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NOURIEL ROUBINI, NYU STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: He's absolutely right there has a massive increase in income and wealth inequality both in the United States and other advanced economies. We're back now to what was income inequality in 1929, and the onset of the Great Depression in the first gilded age. We're in a second gilded age.

HARLOW: Will we see more social unrest this year? Will the situation get worse? Should politicians pay more attention to what's brewing?

GEORGE SOROS, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE: Yes. I am afraid that, in fact, it's brewing because there is a great deal of frustration and anger. And, as I say, it's understandable, and I think something ought to be done. So that's why I'm personally very happy to pay more taxes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: There you heard it, billionaire investor George Soros, I'm personally glad to pay more in taxes, Brooke, responding directly there to the president's State of the Union, calling for anyone that makes $1 million or more to pay at least 30 percent in taxes.

Interesting to note I said, well, aren't your colleagues in the hedge fund world and others going to call this human warfare? He said, I believe my -- quote -- "hedge fund buddies" will call it that. I don't believe that that's what it is.

Interesting coming on the heels of President Obama saying that incoming equality is the defining issue of our time. It has people talking all across Davos here at the World Economic Forum.

Tomorrow, we're going to sit down with a number of leaders, including Bill Gates. My colleague Richard Quest is going to talk to the CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase. Interesting to get their take on all of it. We will have all the coverage for you on CNN Money -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Good deal, CNN Money. And we will see you back here hopefully tomorrow. Thank you, Poppy, live in Davos.

Coming up next, I want to show again and push forward here this brutal beat-down. It's caught on video, and then it's posted to YouTube. Now several teenagers are charged. One of them is still sitting behind bars because of his dad. We will ask the man on the right side of your screen there when he found out about the video and why he made the decision to turn his 17-year-old son in. Don't miss this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: An eighth teenager now has been charged in that Chicago gang attack posted on YouTube. The victim there did get away with some cuts and some bruises, but of the eight charged so far here, just one is sitting in jail today, only one charged as an adult.

And his father played a key role in putting the 17-year-old defendant behind bars.

Michael Palomino, a sheriff's deputy of 30 years, said he had no choice. When he recognized his son's face in this YouTube video, he turned in his son Raymond. And now a judge has refused to reduce Raymond's $100,000 bail, and his father can't get his son out of jail as a result.

The other teenagers charged are under house arrest. I want to bring in Michael Palomino and his attorney, Ilia Usharovich, from Chicago.

Gentlemen, thanks for coming on.

Michael, just beginning with you, Raymond, are you able to talk to him since he's been in jail? I understand he said to you your turning him in was the right thing to do.

MICHAEL PALOMINO, TURNED HIS SON INTO POLICE: Yes, it was.

BALDWIN: Can you explain why he said that? Do you know why?

PALOMINO: Because what he did was wrong, and me seeing the video, all my family members and friends were calling me and telling me, look at the video.

So I looked at it and seen him on the video, and I had no other alternative to do what I had to do.

BALDWIN: OK. So that was my next question, how you even saw this video. You say you had friends and family tell you to take a look at it?

PALOMINO: Yes.

BALDWIN: And you say he didn't say anything to you, even as he was sitting there watching the video alongside you?

PALOMINO: No.

He went -- when I seen the video, he went into his room.

BALDWIN: And then what did you say to him?

PALOMINO: I talked to him and asked him why he did it. At that time, he didn't say nothing.

BALDWIN: So then what?

PALOMINO: And I made the phone call to Chicago, waited for the police to show up. They came to the house. They left, come back 10 minutes later and they placed him under arrest. And then he said that...

(CROSSTALK)

PALOMINO: Go ahead.

BALDWIN: Was there ever any pause? Did you pause? Did you ever think, maybe I shouldn't do this, turn him in?

PALOMINO: No. No. The instant that -- when I seen it, I took it upon myself to do what I had to do as a father.

BALDWIN: I know a lot of people have praised you. Our own legal analyst -- we were talking about this yesterday -- Sunny Hostin and myself -- she said you absolutely did the right thing. But as a father, how involved are you in Raymond's life? Why do you even think he was involved in a fight like that?

PALOMINO: I didn't -- I never seen this side of him. To me, it was a good -- he's a good kid. In the neighborhood -- he would help people out in the neighborhood when they needed help.

I have never seen this side of him do this. This is, for me, the first time I have seen something like this done.

BALDWIN: Did you ask him why, why he and so many others were doing this to this fellow student?

PALOMINO: He said -- he said that he didn't under -- he didn't know why he did it. Then later on he told me that it was, I guess, some time, a couple months ago, that two of his friends got jumped by this young boy and 20 of his friends.

BALDWIN: OK. So I understand -- I know you say you did the right thing by turning him in, but you're frustrated because he's still sitting in jail.

And, so, Ilia, my next question is to you, because, as we mentioned, the bail is set a $100,000. There's this Web site. It's called freepalomino.com to help the family raise this money to get Raymond out of jail. So far, you have taken in $270. There are a lot of critical comments. We have gone through this Web site.

Do you see how people -- and I tell you, we told the story yesterday and I got a lot of angry people on Twitter. They have no sympathy whatsoever for this young man in jail, especially when they see the video.

ILIA USHAROVICH, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL PALOMINO: Well, I notice that a lot of people wish bad upon Raymond. They wish him to get hurt in jail, to get raped. And, really, he's just a little kid.

And wishing him to get raped is no different than what these seven kids did to the one kid or eight kids did to the one kid. Quite frankly, I think it's disgusting that, as a society, we want this little kid to be hurt. That's what this is. It is just a circle of violence.

They have been teaching our children not to turn the other cheek, in a sense, but to live an eye for an eye. And that's a major problem here, is because everybody is mad at this one kid, but there are six, seven other people involved in this, and they're all free right now.

BALDWIN: Well, they're under house arrest. They're not entirely free, and it's Raymond who is 17 and is now sitting in jail as a result of everything that they are charged of doing.

My final question, Michael, to you, I understand you're a single father of seven kids. What, as a father, do you want fellow parents to take away from your situation? PALOMINO: What he did was wrong. In my eyes, what he did was wrong and he has to suffer the consequences.

BALDWIN: But what's the takeaway for other parents? Is there a takeaway? Perhaps not.

PALOMINO: I don't understand that question.

BALDWIN: Is there anything other parents to be watching this video, to see what you're going through, anything another parent can learn from your situation and your son's situation in jail?

PALOMINO: OK. It's essentially that, well, people have seen the video, they're making my son look like the bad guy throughout the whole video, but he's not the only one involved in this beating of this young man.

There are seven other -- seven or six other kids involved. They're all out on house arrest, but my son has got to sit in jail because I can't come up with the $10,000 bond for him. They're all being charged as -- the same as he is.

BALDWIN: I understand. I understand. I hear your frustration, a lot of frustration all around, a lot of burden shared.

Michael and Ilia, I thank you so much for coming on. Appreciate it.

Now this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress. I will sign it tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That's a moment from last night's State of the Union. It certainly caught our attention. Somehow, the practice of lawmakers using secret information to benefit themselves is not banned already. Coming up next, you're going to hear from a guy who knows what politicians do behind closed doors and why they can get away with it, actions that would land you and I behind bars.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Last night in his State of the Union address, President Obama talked about the -- quote -- "deficit of trust" that exists between those in Washington and the rest of the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: Now, some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let's take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: "Send me a bill," the president says.

Now, some lawmakers might have stood up for that idea that was proposed last night, but Congress overall has been sitting on any kind of reform to prevent insider trading by lawmakers. And that may surprise you, the fact that those in Congress do not actually follow the same rules about selling and buying stocks that you and I have to follow.

CNN in-depth today, we return to my interview just a couple months ago in November with the author of this book, "Throw Them All Out." Peter Schweizer says insider trading is chronic on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER SCHWEIZER, AUTHOR, "THROW THEM ALL OUT": They don't have to worry about insider trading laws. They are free to -- if they get sensitive information from the Food and Drug Administration, or something that is happening with the economy, or something in a bill related to health care, they are free and they often do trade on that inside information on the stock market.

And there have been studies done, Brooke, that show that U.S. senators actually are "better investors" -- I will put that in quotation marks -- than hedge funds. Hedge funds beat the market by 7 percent to 8 percent a year. U.S. senators beat the market by 12 percent a year. And there's plenty of examples of how they do this.

BALDWIN: Well, let's give an example, right? That's why we have you on. I mean, one example I know I have read that you cited is, let's say, for example, you're sitting on a health care committee and you get this not-yet-public information on a prescription drug...

SCHWEIZER: Right.

BALDWIN: ... and you buy stock. Perfectly fine?

SCHWEIZER: Yes, it's perfectly fine.

I mean, it works both ways. If you find out that the FDA is going to approve a drug, you're having a conversation during an oversight meeting or discussion with a bureaucrat, you're free to trade on that information.

If you get a briefing from the Treasury secretary on something happening in the financial markets that nobody else is privy to, you're free to trade on that information. And this goes on quite regularly.

During the 2008 financial crisis, for example, Brooke, we had lots of members of Congress who had very small intimate private meetings with the Treasury secretary and the fed chairman. And when you look at those meetings, you'll notice that the next day after those meetings, dozens of Congress men were selling large amounts of stock before the rest of us even knew having the crisis was.

BALDWIN: Also not illegal, member of Congress has access to initial public stock offerings, and can buy them at insider prices, yes?

SCHWEIZER: That's exactly right. I mean, let's assume for a second, Brooke, that you're a United States senator. If I come in to your office and I give you a shoebox with $10,000 of cold hard cash in it and I hand it to you that's bribery.

If we get caught, both of us are going to jail.

BALDWIN: Yes.

SCHWEIZER: But if I come into your office and instead say, look, I'm going to give you access to preferred IPO shares, initial public offerings shares of stock, and if you buy these, it's going to net you $100,000 in a single day, that's completely legal and it goes on quite regularly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: How about that. Schweizer also says that there is not enough oversight of politician and land deals. The book, "Throw Them All Out."

Still ahead, jurors apparently getting very emotional after Garth Brooks takes the stand in his lawsuit involving a promise made to his own mother.

Plus, he is known as the barefoot bandit convicted of a nationwide crime spree that baffled investigators for years. He is scheduled to be sentence this week. But some e-mails he wrote behind bars may be coming back to haunt him. Joey Jackson is on the case with us today. He's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: "On the Case" today, country music superstar Garth Brooks goes to court over a broken promise to honor his mother. She died of cancer in 1999, and just last night, Garth Brooks won.

Joey Jackson is a defense attorney and former prosecutor. Joe, good to see you.

Quick setup for people if they're not familiar with this. So Garth Brooks says this Oklahoma hospital he promise to name a women's center after his mother in exchange for a half a million dollar donation. But hospital administrators, they made plans to use the money for other projects, so what does Brooks do? He sues and the jury awards him a million dollars, so double his money back. Sounds like a pretty fair outcome. What do you think? JOEY JACKSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Justice is served. And here's what's important here. Listen, it's his late mother. She died in 1999, and what did he do? He said, you know, I want to honor her. And the best way I can honor her is to go to this hospital and to have them name a women's center after her and we'll give them a half a million dollars to do that.

And, of course, what does the hospital do, Brooke? They said, you know what, we have other important projects and priorities, so we'll spend the money on that. And so what he sought to do by taking them to the court of laws, hold them accountable. And say, look, we had an agreement. You sued for breech of contract. And in that sued, he said, you know what, you promised me one thing, you did another, that's reprehensible. And the jury agreed to not only, as you mentioned, Brooke, he doubles his money, he gets his money back but they award punitive damages to say that what you did is wrong, and to deter them from doing this to him or anybody else in the future. Great outcome.

BALDWIN: Other projects and priorities, so says the hospital administrator. Obviously, you point out the jury didn't buy it. Would you buy that?

JACKSON: No way. I mean, listen, you have to think about when two people are sitting down to have a discussion. Of course, they say, you know what? He gave us this gift, says the hospital, Brooke, and it was unrestricted. It was a half a million. We could do as we pleased. Who would believe that?

He is honoring his mother, she dies of cancer, of course they would agree that is the jury that there was a contemplation, an agreement between two people to honor and recognize his mom, not to spend it anything you want. That would be nonsense. And the jury said -- the jury so concluded, gave him his money, and $500,000 so the hospital could think twice before they do this again.

BALDWIN: And the jury thought about this, Joey, for mere minutes, and then boom, verdict. Are you surprised by how quick that was?

JACKSON: No, Brooke, because, look, they had to go back, have a cup of coffee, talk about how egregious and how reprehensible this type of conduct is, you know. Say hello to each other, say good-bye. Come back out, do the right thing and so long.

And so I'm not surprised at all. I think, you know, it's unfortunate that he had to be dragged through this. It's bad enough losing your mom, and then you want to honor your mother. They don't agree with that. That is the hospital, they do what they wanted to do and so they needed to be held accountable. They were held accountable. I think it's the right outcome. I'm just surprised it didn't take them a couple of seconds instead of a couple of minutes.

BALDWIN: He's probably thinking, thanks so much. I'm going to take my money and donate it somewhere else. Let's talk about the barefoot bandit because we just love talking the barefoot bandit. Remember, this is the 20-year-old burglar who broke into homes, businesses wearing no shoes. Thus, the barefoot bandit.

He, you know, got out of the Bahamas on a stolen plane, arrested while trying to get away from police on a stolen boat. He was quite contrite before he was sentenced last month on state charges, but it turns out, this guy has been bragging about his crimes, bad-mouthing authorities ever since. He is supposed to be sentence, Friday, on federal charges.

Tell me, Joey, what has he been saying, and I imagine it could very much so come back to haunt him.

JACKSON: Why I would love to tell, Brooke, what he's been saying, but I can't repeat such things on air. So let's just say that he's had a couple choice words for the police, you know, they're swine, they're other things. Prosecutors, they are bad people. Because what happens is, when you're in a federal lockup or in any facility, may not be federal, of course -- you know, whether it be state or whatever it is, they monitor what you do. You don't have the expectation of privacy.

So if you're speaking on the phone, expect for what you say to be recorded and otherwise transcribed if you say something that's adverse to your interests.

Same thing when you're writing letters. All that is monitored. So when you're in a situation, Brooke, when you're going back to court, when you've already resolved your state sentence, OK, it's 7 and a half years, now you're going back before a court who's going to determine how much federal time you should do, the last thing you want to do is to say negative things.

However, that being said, Brooke, I think ultimately the attorney will deal with that and they'll say, you know what, these are musings by a frustrated person, obviously, and at the same time, he didn't bad-mouth victims, he didn't say anything with respect to the people that he might have restitution, too, or did negative things, too. He just expressed a little frustration.

And if you look at his background, you could say, you know what, he comes from a very troubled past. You have an alcoholism. His mom was very much unfortunately, you know, involved in the whole alcoholism thing. She had broken relationships. He had a broken home. He had a very unfortunate background and upbringing, and as a result of that, perhaps the judge just decides to look the other way.

But that being said, you know, look, they're talking about a 78- month sentence. These are 67 crimes that he committed over the course of two and a half years. I mean, come on, that's a bargain, you know.

BALDWIN: He said on page 20 of his sentencing memorandum, the things I have done as far as flying airplanes go is amazing. Nobody on this planet have done what I have done except for the Wright brothers.

He compares himself to the Wright Brothers, Joey Jackson.

JACKSON: And that's why they're going to get a movie deal out of this. And all that money, Brooke, $1.4 million, is going to pay restitution to the victims, and what can be better than that?

BALDWIN: Joey Jackson. Great seeing you. Thank you. "On the Case."

JACKSON: Great to see you, Brooke. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Now this.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ever since she was a little girl -- you remember -- every day we would get ready to send her off to school. And I always told her -- I said, "Just study hard. Learn a lot. We love you. " And I don't get to do that for her anymore.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

BALDWIN: Oh, this is so sad. This is a story you have yet to hear about a tornado that ripped through Alabama, and the 16-year-old girl she dies. And her parents reveal the shock of losing their little girl. You're going to hear a little bit more from them, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Two dead, hundreds of homes destroyed. That's the headline you might have seen online or in the paper about the tornado that ripped through parts of Alabama just this week. But there are also the emotional stories, the stories behind the headlines, including one about a 16-year-old girl who simply fell asleep Monday night and didn't wake up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARRELL HEICHELBECH, FATHER: She had just such spirit, such life. And she -- I mean, she was smart and she had such ambition.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the worst day of Darrell and Carol Heichelbech's lives. The song of their heart, 16-year-old Christina, was killed when Monday's early-dawn twister barreled out of the Alabama sky and roared through their home.

HEICHELBECH: Ever since she was a little girl -- you remember -- every day we would get ready to send her off to school. And I always told her -- I said, "Just study hard. Learn a lot. We love you. " And I don't get to do that for her anymore.

WOLF: Their home nestled in a small valley, they never heard the warning sirens. As their house blew apart, Darrell and his 12- year- old son Josh landed in the pool. Carol was trapped briefly under debris. Christy was found in the back yard on a mattress. She never woke up.

HEICHELBECH: Christina was -- I mean, she was the kind of kid that you wanted to have. If we told her to be home by 10:00, she was home by 10:00. When she drove all the way to school. She would always text me and say, "Dad, I'm here."

WOLF: At the same high school in Birmingham, her friends and teachers try to comprehend the loss.

GIA GRADDY, CHOIR DIRECTOR: Christy was destined for greatness, for sure. She was brilliant. I could see her going on to do really anything she put her mind to, but I know she wanted to go to veterinary school. And I could definitely see her, because she had such a gentle spirit. She would be wonderful with animals.

WOLF: Her dad says Christina, a junior honor student, planned to go to Auburn on a full scholarship.

HEICHELBECH: All her plans were coming into play and now they're gone. And I don't know what to do.

Reynolds Wolf, CNN, Pinson, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Beyond tragic. For more information on how to provide help or relief of the victims of the southeast storms, go to CNN.com/Impact.

It has been a couple weeks here since Alec Baldwin got booted from that plane for not listening to the flight attendants. And now he is speaking out for the very first time to a CNN exclusive. You're going to hear from Alec Baldwin. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Alec Baldwin, he is now speaking out to CNN in this exclusive interview. And keep in mind this is the first time we've actually heard from the "30 Rock" star since he was booted from an American Airlines flight for playing a cell phone game. And Piers Morgan, kudos to you, Pierce, landed the interview. Here is a sneak peak of Baldwin explaining his side of the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: I was on this plane and then all of a sudden I was in the presence of some of whom all those rules changed and we were going to have a very, very kind of soviet level of enforcement of the rules, if you will. And in an instant, and it was done without any -- no quarter. And it was done very brutally.

This woman was very harsh and very, very snappy. And I reacted badly to that. I got really, really very upset. And then I was asked to get off the plane and get on another plane. And to the extent, as I said, that I inconvenienced anybody else on the flight, I was very, very sorry. And I really mean when I say when you get on the plane -- I mean, even though most people, I think, are aware that these rules about this stuff while they're on the ground or certainly while they're at the gate, these rules are kind of stupid and inane, it's still something you have to contend with. Just turn your phone off while you're in flight.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

BALDWIN: You can catch that entire Alec Baldwin interview on "Piers Morgan" tonight, 9:00 Eastern, only here on CNN.

Meantime got another guy right around the corners from us, as always, Wolf Blitzer. "SITUATION ROOM" starting in 10 minutes. There he is-- voila -- on the road, Jacksonville, the day before the big debate. And top of the hour, new poll numbers, right, Wolf?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: New poll numbers. And just to be precise, the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, a lovely campus. You can see the green right behind me.

We've got a brand new CNN/"Time" magazine/ORC Poll on the Florida Republican primary match. The latest numbers, I think you're going to be interested in how this race in Florida goes up, goes down, who's in, who's out, who's ahead and who's not necessarily ahead. This is shaping up to be a really, really exciting contest next Tuesday.

And guess what?

BALDWIN: What?

BLITZER: Tomorrow night, right here on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, the fine arts center, right behind me, I'm going to be moderating CNN's debate, the presidential debate with the final four -- the final four Republican candidates left standing on that stage. So I'm busy getting ready with -- with some good questions, we hope.

BALDWIN: God, I would imagine so. That was quite the debate last week. David Gergen calling it historic. I cannot wait to watch tomorrow night.

Mr. Blitzer, thank you very much.

We'll see you in a couple of minutes for your show.

Meantime, coming up next, a mayor makes an offensive comment during a time in which several of his own police officers are accused of racial profiling. And now he's facing all kinds of backlash. You're going to hear his comment.

And just a short time ago, Jason Carroll caught up with the mayor of East Haven, Connecticut.

He's going to join me live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Have you heard?

They've got a little problem in East Haven, Connecticut. East Haven, Connecticut has a problem with the police, specifically the four officers named in a federal indictment.

And then there's the mayor. We're going to play some sound from him in just a moment.

But first, here's a look at what's going on in East Haven, Connecticut.

This is reporter Mario Diaz of CNN affiliate WPIX.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIO DIAZ, WPIX CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Miller, a veteran cop of East Haven, along with three others David Cari, Jason Zullo and Dennis Spaulding, also referred to as "the Miller boys," are accused by the FBI of not only intimidating fellow officers, but also an entire community.

DAVID FEIN, U.S. ATTORNEY: The indictment further alleges that Spaulding and Zullo intimidated, harassed and humiliated members of the Latin -- of the Latino community.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

BALDWIN: OK. Four police officers, close to 10 percent -- do the math -- 10 percent of the East Haven force, arrested by the FBI on charges including racial profiling and harassment of Latinos.

A good time for the mayor, wouldn't you say, to try to, you know, reestablish a little trust with the city's Hispanic community.

Well, here he is, East Haven mayor, Joseph Maturo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY WPIX)

MAYOR JOSEPH MATURO, EAST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: And that's why we can't always believe what we hear from the press. Never criticize without knowing the facts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing for the Latino community today?

MATURO: I might have tacos when I go home. I'm not quite sure yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The mayor essentially says he plans to reassure Latinos by having tacos for dinner. Maybe a clarification is in order.

Let's go to CNN's Jason Carroll.

He has ventured to East Hartford in search of precisely that -- and, Jason, you talked to the mayor.

What did he say?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did. Well, he apologized, as you can imagine. The fallout has been tremendous, people writing on the Internet, calls coming into the mayor's office about the comments that he made.

He basically said that he needs to apologize and has apologized to -- to the community. He also said, Brooke, that the stress of the situation basically got the better of him. He said it was a long day after doing a lot of interviews. He says his comments were misinterpreted. Now, originally, Brooke, today, he said what he would do is he said he would read me a prepared statement. He did that. At the conclusion of that, I pressed him a little bit more on the statement and what he tried to say.

Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Please just tell us, do you think the apology will be enough?

I think that would help.

MATURO: I certainly hope so. I created something that went viral. It was something that the media says, "got you," and ran with it. I accept full responsibility. I have apologized profusely.

CARROLL: Do you think it would be helpful, at least at this point...

MATURO: (INAUDIBLE).

CARROLL: -- if you would please explain...

MATURO: But I already sent it out.

CARROLL: But it would be helpful if you at least tried to explain what you were trying to say about the Latino community. That's what I'm saying.

MATURO: You know, looking at it...

CARROLL: If you would try to...

MATURO: And there I go getting myself in trouble again.

CARROLL: In hindsight, looking at it...

MATURO: And I'm saying...

CARROLL: -- what were you trying to say?

MATURO: All I meant was that I -- I don't feel bad going into any community to have an any -- I didn't feel persecuted by what happened in our town prior to that. So by going into another section of the -- that's all it meant, that I could go into a different section of a community and have a bite to eat. I didn't feel -- I didn't feel as though I was being -- or our town was being discriminatory or that I was -- that I wasn't afraid to talk to or be in the company of anybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So there you have it, Brooke, trying to give more of an explanation there. The mayor of Hartford also weighing in on this issue, calling the mayor's comments disgusting. The governor of Connecticut also weighing in today, saying that those comments made by the mayor were insensitive and showed a real lack of judgment.

When I asked Mayor Maturo about that, he said, look, I have to agree with what the governor said. But he also said, at this point, Brooke, what he wants to do is promote healing. He said that he's put together a commission to -- to -- to look into this, to look into the larger issues that are facing this community dealing with the police and the Latino community here in -- in East Haven -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: I -- I appreciate you pressing him and the whole exchange afterwards. This is sort of the same question you asked him, is, is an apology, is an "I'm sorry" enough?

Have you -- have you been on the ground there long enough, Jason Carroll, to find out, you know, talking to people in East Haven, is that good enough for them?

CARROLL: Well, it -- I think in the Latino community, since there has -- there been such a longstanding feeling of distrust with the police here, I think it may be difficult there. But just right before we -- I was to go on with you, a woman came by and said, you know, the police in this community do a good job, the mayor's comments were taken, in some ways, in her opinion, out of context and there needs to be healing on both sides here.

BALDWIN: OK.

CARROLL: Brooke.

BALDWIN: Jason Carroll, we appreciate -- we appreciate you tracking down the mayor.

Thank you, in East Haven, Connecticut.

Finally, Political Pop now, giving you a little international flavor today.

Let's head to Russia, shall we?

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visiting a Siberian judo hall yesterday. Take a look. Russia's national judo team hard at work training for the Summer Olympics. But Putin, who holds a black belt in judo himself -- you know, he had to get on the -- in on the action a little bit. He showed some of the kids some of his moves. He was there in a suit. But, you know, we've managed to dig up some old video of him in the full judo outfit.

This is from Let's Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin. Folks, this -- yes, this actually exists. Taking some guy down. This is an instructional DVD put out in 2008.

Just because we can.

And, finally, before we go to Wolf Blitzer, a quick check of the markets. Up 84 points. We are just 10 seconds away here from the closing bell. There you go. The latest numbers on Wall Street.

And speaking of Wolf Blitzer, he's taking the show on the road, because tomorrow, the big debate in Jacksonville, Florida. There he is on campus -- Wolf Blitzer, to you, sir.